The Rumors Won’t Go Away About Chris Paul

When Paul was quoted a few weeks ago as saying he’d be open to a trade if the Hornets aren’t committed to building a championship team, it was only a small hint as to the size of the chasm that exists between the franchise and its cornerstone player. Paul, in fact, has put into motion an aggressive exit strategy that will accelerate in the coming weeks, and his clear intention is to be traded before the start of the 2010-11 season, a person with direct knowledge of his plans told CBSSports.com Wednesday. […]

Paul’s list of preferred destinations consists of the Knicks, Magic and Lakers, and members of his inner circle already have sent word to the Hornets of his desire to be traded to one of those teams, sources say. If Paul has his way, he’s played his last game in a Hornets jersey.

Here we go again.

The Chris Paul rumors won’t go away. That’s not a bad thing, mind you. At any point in time, when the best point guard in the NBA is available and he’s openly willing to play for the Orlando Magic, it’s natural to salivate at the possibilities. However, this story has been beaten to death. At this point, the only “major” advancement in Paul’s saga is that the Magic are listed as a team he’d prefer to play for. And so are the Los Angeles Lakers, which is downright scary to think about. UPDATE: Chris Broussard of ESPN.com says the Lakers are not in the running, but the Dallas Mavericks and the Portland Trail Blazers are.

But now what?

Trade possibilities can be conjured up, sure. However, the New Orleans Hornets have the power to either keep or trade Paul. And if the Hornets do decide to do what was once the unthinkable and move Paul, then the handful of teams that are vying for his services will have to figure out a trade package that will be acceptable for New Orleans, even though — in the grand scheme of things– it probably still won’t be good enough. It’s almost impossible to get fair value for a superstar.

A Baton Rouge, LA paper quotes Chris Paul's Agent as saying that the star will be out of New Orleans by the start of the NBA season. Keep in my that Paul, as is Chris Bosch is represented by LRMR Marketing a company founded by Lebron James. I personally feel that Lebron has too much undue influence on the NBA. It appears that a study should be made to determine if there is a conflict of interest in the fact that so many elite players are signing on with Lebron's management company. It is any wonder that the NBA lost $400 million dollars last year. Where is the commissioner? What basketball needs is parity. Keep in mind that the Lakers and Celtics have won over half of the world championship banners.

Chris Paul appears disenchanted with the Hornets efforts to put together a championship caliber team and wants out of New Orleans. I said if a player wants and you can obtain substantive value, let him go. New Orleans has the best point guard tandem in Darren Collision and CP3. I hope the Hornets will listen to all reasonable offers, so they can get back to contending for a championship. Chris Paul appears to want to win now and I don't think he has as much as a snowball chance in hell with the present roster. One has to remember that CP3 missed 35 games last season with 3 different injuries. This may have some affect on his win now attitude.

Fired? I think that's a bit extreme. No matter what, it's going to be difficult for any team -- let alone the Orlando Magic -- to pull off a trade for Chris Paul. Trading for superstars is always a tricky proposition. I'm sure Otis Smith will try his best to acquire Paul if it's clear that the Hornets have no choice but to trade him.

I think Otis should be fired if he is not doing everything he can to try to make this happen. Players of this caliber don't come around every day. To those who feel bad about letting Jameer go, I get it. This would be a big upgrade, however. I had friends with similar feelings in the early 90s when Stanley Roberts had just had a pretty good rookie season, and then the Magic drafted a guy at the same position. His name? Shaq. Trust me, if this deal gets done, you will not feel bad for long. Paul is the kind of player who makes his teammates better. We would have arguably the best player in the league at the two most important positions(PG C). Make it happen Otis!

Valid questions and concerns but I think if you're Otis Smith, you pull the trigger on a trade with no hesitations. Paul would want to go to New York and team up with 'Melo and Stoudemire because he wants to win. I repeat, Paul wants to win. There's no question that Paul is going to win plenty with the Magic if he were traded here so if that's the case, I don't see why he would leave for another opportunity if that's the main factor for him wanting to be traded.

As for Okafor, you have to bite the bullet for Paul. Have to.

@Billy (slickw143)

I agree.

Almost everyone that matters, like Hollinger, agree that the Magic have the best assets to offer the Hornets. Orlando has a little bit of everything and they can go a variety of ways with a trade package, which makes it easier to try to put together the pieces that will attract New Orleans.

@Adolfo

From what I've been reading, a combination of quality players, expiring contracts, and assets (for example, draft picks).

We have plenty of stock worthy of trade and this is one hell'ova counter to what Miami has done . Although I know fans have learn to love and cheer for many of our players but this is a part of the game and is just as important as the playoffs , hell its where it begins . I would offer fair players to NO they should be able to compete with what we give them Im not sure what combo it will be , But Otis you the man that can pull this off work your magic then next year lets see if we cant have a Mello off season! That would put a damper on Wade , James , and Bosh .

I think it would be a monunmental mistake for the Hornets to trade Paul for a package centering around Bynum. The dude has legit health concerns, much moreso than Jameer. His legs have had a few procedures performed on them already, and as a big body putting pressure on them, I guarantee it won't be the last.

Plus I've never really felt that mentally, he's all there. At least not when it matters most. He was mostly invisible in the Finals last year, and the same goes for every series after the first round this year. He was dealing with the knee issue, but that just circles around to my first point about his health issues.

Bottom line, I feel like we can offer the most attractive package as well, if NO is absolutely forced to trade Paul. They should obviously avoid that at all costs but, even though Jameer is my favorite player on the team, if they do go that route I hope Otis can put together a deal.

I agree that the Magic can package the best deal for NO, but I think that it may be a bad idea. I definitely think that he would be an upgrade from Jameer (as much as I love him), and getting CP3 would give us a much better chance at a championship. I'm just worried about the longterm ramifications.

First we'd likely have to take on Okafor's deal. And he is on the books for about 11M this year with 4 years left. Gortat, while valuable, is already overpaid for a backup C, and Okafor makes about twice as much.

Secondly, I don't know that CP3 will stick around. What if Melo joins up with Amare in NY next year? Paul might look at that and decide that NY is a better situation. Then what? We hope for a sign-and-trade? We blow up the roster trying to pursue another superstar to keep CP3? And what effect would that have on Dwight? His contract is up the same year as Paul's. What if we ship important pieces to NO for Paul and he bolts in two years? That leaves Dwight with a less talented team than he has now. And ultimately we should be most concerned with keeping D12 happy.

All that being said, I think that you have to make this deal. But it comes with substantial risk. And it worries me...

The Lakers have plenty of assets at their disposal. The question is whether or not they have the pieces that the Hornets like. Trading Bynum would not destroy Los Angeles' chance of another championship. That makes no sense when the Lakers would be acquiring a top five player and the best point guard in the NBA. It's a talent upgrade. Okafor would be a fine replacement at center, even though Bynum is better. The big man rotation wouldn't be disrupted, whatsoever.

The Lakers would be fools to give up Bynum. What makes the Lakers great is that they have two big men on their starting rotation which most teams can't match up with. Getting rid of Bynum would destroy the Lakers' chance of another championship. Besides, Bynum is injury prone and you need more pieces than one man to land a superstar like Paul. NO needs to dump Okafor or Stojakovic's salary in any CP3 deal. Who else are the Lakers going to give NO to absorb one of those two players' salaries?

Same as Will, I wouldn't like to lose Jameer, he is a symbol in our team, maybe he's not a Super-Star but he is one of our franchise players and that means a lot in the chemistry of the team... I don't know... doesn't feel right... however I'll love to get CP3...!!!

That'd be impossible. The Magic would have to include Carter in any deal with the Hornets, though I understand what you're trying to say.

@hulKK

Paul, Anthony, and Stoudemire is a trio that could definitely compete for championships. Why wouldn't Paul and Anthony want to play for D'Antoni, by the way? They're familiar with him from the Olympics, and the allure of playing in New York will always be there.

As for the Lakers, they're not in the running. At least, not right now.

@Billy (slickw143)

It's a tough position for the Hornets to be in, without a doubt.

@Mike

The Lakers have nothing to give? Really? I think a trade centered around Andrew Bynum would be a heck of a package, in my opinion.

@Will

Can't let your feelings cloud your judgment. Nelson is a good player, but I would not hesitate for a second to include him in a deal for Paul. That's not an indictment on Nelson, whatsoever, but speaks to Paul's greatness as a player.

Man, I love how everyone is just willing to throw away Jameer. Jeez. I like Chris Paul and having one of the best players in the game on the Magic is great and all but I'd feel bad, personally, if we just abandoned Jameer. Next to Dwight, I feel Jameer is a face of the franchise.

Then again, I wouldn't like losing Mikeal Pietrus or Gortat. Carter and Bass, as much as I like him personally, are much easier to part with.

Well of course it's dumb for NO no matter who they trade CP3 too. They may have no choice though. Don't trade him and he leaves and you get nothing in return or trade him and get something. Looking at it, Orlando makes the most sense for NO since they can at least get VC's expiring contract which will save them money and get a decent center in Gortat and a serviceable PG in Nelson. Throw in Okafor to Orlando for more money savings and cap purposes and its the best NO can hope for. LA and NY have nothing of real value to give.

Trading Paul won't be a win for NO, regardless. They'd have to feel like they were in the same position Toronto was with Bosh, and even then, Toronto didn't trade Bosh. It's just not smart trading someone who's arguably a top 5 player in the NBA, let alone the top player at his position.

It wouldn't make sense for Paul to go to NY. He'll still be on a 4th to 5th best team in the East. Even if Carmelo joins them (Paul, Amare) I still don't think that will be enough in the east to win a championship. Also I really doubt Carmelo and Paul would want to play for a coach who isn't big on defense. I REALLY doubt NO would do something stupid like trading Paul to the Lakers. Portland needs A LOT more then a Chris Paul to be a contender so that wouldn't make sense either. He could be traded to the Mavs but NO wouldn't get much in return plus Dirk is getting old so that wouldn't be a good long term option. I think Orlando would be perfect. Orlando has A LOT of trade bait, a strong nucleus of role players, and the Paul/Dwight combo would be a GREAT long term move considering they're both only 25yrs old. I think trading Paul to Orlando would be a win, win for NO and Orlando.

I maybe in the minority but I feel if the magic could some trade for cp3 without having to deal vc would bring the best outta vince. Giving vince a pg who could help create a shot for him instead of him always having to do it himself would do wonders for vc. Unfortunately though vince's contract will look real good to the hornets and the magic would probably add jameer and marcin to sweeten the deal with the hornets adding posey or peja.